THE MESSAGE:
HILLARY SAYS "THAT'S A LOAD OF CRAP, TONY!"
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONTARIO
SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ONTARIO
A narrow focus on college preparation has become the norm in today’s high schools. But where is it leading? Youth unemployment remains high even as millions of good jobs go unfilled. The focus on University preparation seems to fail in making one important connection: the connection between school and the world of work.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Many of today’s rewarding and well-paying jobs do not require a university degree, but do require some form of post-secondary training, as well as general workplace skills: the ability to communicate well, to collaborate, to problem-solve, and to adapt to change. One of the best ways to get these skills is through apprenticeship training. Ontario Secondary Schools used to have a more concentrated approach to technical courses by offering a program called Science, Technology and Trades, STT. For me the gradual decline in the channeling of students into such programs is a disappointing reality. These programs were viewed to be a divisive situation that tended to ignore the necessary coordination between studies and practical skills. The STT program was dropped by the Ministry, rather than instituting the sensible and practical approach of bringing the theoretical skills of the math class into the shop, and the practical skills of the shop into the math class.
One example of success can be found in the city of St Louis, USA. The St. Louis "Carpenter’s District Council" oversees a program that has been very successful in preparing students for careers in the work place.
Students in the Bayless Middle Apprenticeship Program (MAP) begin a pre-apprenticeship in their junior year of high school. They spend half the school day in a traditional classroom, and the other half learning their craft hands-on under the guidance of licensed professionals. After high school graduation they’re eligible for placement into a Registered Apprenticeship, leading to an associate’s degree and journeywork certification. MAP students learn how to create, install, and restore hardwood, ceramic tile and other types of flooring for residential and commercial buildings. They are paid while they’re learning and prepared for careers in well-paying fields.
It is crucial that young people in Ontario launch their careers early, earning while they learn, and avoiding the burden of student loan debt. Apprenticeships help students discover and apply their natural aptitudes and abilities. At the same time, they connect core academic curriculum with real-world application. For many, learning by doing is essential. Giving students the opportunity to engage in hands-on work is an important way to align education with working life.
Skill-based education gives young people the chance to get experience and gain confidence early. Many apprentices continue to develop their skills and pursue further education down the road. One MAP student gives us a perfect example. He began as a carpentry apprentice who went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in architecture, followed by advanced degrees in business and organizational leadership. His early apprenticeship is where he “learned how to learn,” he says. In today’s work place, where the pace of technology demands the ability to rapidly and flexibly upgrade one’s skills, the hands-on nature of apprenticeship has never been more relevant, or more necessary.
Introducing apprenticeships at the high school level can prepare young people to launch rewarding careers early. Coordination between the Ministry of Education, Secondary School Guidance Departments, Community Colleges and Ontario Industry and Trades could become a powerful way to connect students with these opportunities.
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